Time off
Writing a report no one cares about.
A few weeks ago I stopped into my regular packie (that’s liquor store if you aren’t a New Englander) because there was a critical shortage of whiskey in my house. I only have myself to blame.
I have been going to this particular for the last 18 years or so since we moved to our town from Providence, RI. Suddenly living in Providence became a lot less attractive a place to live after I became a cop there. I took my bottle of Powers to the cashier, whom I call Nice Lady, a la Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit.
“Don’t you ever take any time off?” Nice Lady asked.
“I go on vacation in a few weeks and I go to writing conventions.” I added lamely.
“You know those don’t count.” NL said referring to the conventions.
That exchange was a month or so ago. I thought about it for a minute in the car before started home to work furiously to finish my second Tommy Kelly novel. I work full time, albeit behind a desk for the Police Department. I write books, which involves a lot more than just writing books. There’s always editing or reading manuscripts for people. I write two, mostly weekly blogs and record two episodes of the Deported to Sweden podcast https://deportedtosweden.buzzsprout.com/2513002/episodes/17545216-episode-9-i-did-a-thing?t=0 every two week. I am the rather adequate husband and father to two teenage boys and all that goes with it. Add in all things that I have to do to do my bit for the family it occurred to me that the Nice Lady might be on to something.
We took our annual family and friends vacation to Block Island last week. It was a relaxing week spent with some of the best people in my life. Days spent seeing people, catching up with others. Time spent with my sons whom I think are two of the most fascinating people in the world. I was able to watch beautiful sunsets every night. Late night drunken philosophical ramblings with my best, long after our Long Suffering Wives had gone to bed. I ate and drank well and managed to sleep in.
I also brought my laptop. Writing and the business end of being published don’t go on vacation. There is always something that comes up that needs me to fire up the old laptop. This year that was especially true as my new series debuted as an Amazon First Reads book. I couldn’t be more thrilled but it also meant sacrificing a little time here and there to do my best to support the efforts. I am lucky to be a published author. Very lucky to have a series being published by Thomas and Mercer. A few hours of vacation time are dear but not too dear to support the effort.
If nothing else I proved Nice Lady wrong…I do take time off. I have pictures to prove it. Cheers!